KALHYGIENIC: An innovative cosmetic ingredient with long lasting hygienic features

Background

Pandemic influenced our lifestyle.

Wide exposure to disinfectants that employ aggressive ingredients made our skin condition worsen. Health, safety and wellness are now the new priorities and will represent the next years’ global market trends. This emergency changed our habits and lifestyle, nowadays we are all concerned about our protection; washing and sanitizing have become an obsession. Analysts are saying that this trend is here to stay, particularly due to other pandemics that might occur, such us ordinary influenza and similar. A big limitation of the common alcohol sanitizing gels regards the short time protection activity obtained. In fact, after the application, evaporation and drying, the activity of these products against microorganisms in no longer guaranteed. For this reason, a new product that could avoid this issue and once applied on our skin, keep the surface dermis protected against bacteria, viruses and various biological agents for a long time, would be a breakthrough. For instance, uo to 6 hours…

Introducing a new technology

Hydroxyapatite (HA), is a naturally occurring mineral form of calcium apatite with formula Ca₁₀(PO4)₆ (OH)₂. Substitution of OH− in the apatite structure will influence its chemical reactivity and morphology

Since the stoichiometric hydroxyapatite has a high crystalline index that gives it a rigid structure, hard to be functionalized, and with a very low reactivity, Kalichem developed an exclusive Know-how to overcome these disadvantages.

According to our patent, we developed “Biomimetic hydroxyapatite” which is more performing for dermatological applications in comparison to stoichiometric one. When referring to biomimetic, we mean the production of biomimetic HA, as a mineral compound that mimics the physiological natural one contained in our body. Its structure and function are similar to the natural occurring one. Based on the above knowledge, we developed a method to conjugate HA with a cationic surfactant, widely used as antiseptic agents to form the innovative ingredient KALHYGENIC.

Anti-microorganisms activity

Cationic surfactants are widely used against microorganisms. They possess virucidal activity against susceptible and resistant strains of influenza virus by targeting and disrupting the viral envelope; this mechanism allows a broad spectrum of activity against different types of microorganisms as bacteria, fungi, and enveloped viruses like coronavirus, RSV, influenza etc. Cationic surfactants substantial viru­cidal activity is seen without development of resistance.

• Based on the results of the in vitro test, we found under scanning microscopy, that the ingredienti is able to disrupt the structure of Streptococcus Mutans making its surface rough. Moreover, this effect is evident for at least 4 hours, thus providing a longer period of protection without any irritation, while also providing many benefits to the skin due to the HA features.
• Based on the results of the in vitro test the ingredient, as a combination of HAP and a cationic surfactant, effectively destroys envelope of coronavirus tested strain. We can also observe debris and viral residues under electronic microscopy. We also found that after 4 hours the virucidal effect became stronger.

Applications

- Skin care

Based on the above knowledge, Kalichem’s aim is to reassure the consumer and ease the tension mood of the hygiene habits created by the Covid-19 situation. The main applications can be in products for hands or other specific areas of the body, such as feet.

These products can provide one with immediate and long-term (at least 4 hours) protection at any time without the continuous use of alcohol-based aggressive products.

When applied on the skin, this new technology will form an invisible mineral nourishing film. Under the skin condition (average pH= 4.7 – 5.5), the cationic surfactant will be released from the ingredient and will effectively protect us against many microorganisms including but not limited to, influenza virus such us coronavirus Influenza A, Influenza B, etc.

- Oral care

Scientific results suggest that reducing the virus load into the mouth is also a crucial way to prevent transmission of coronavirus. This inspired Kalichem to apply this new technology into oral care products like toothpastes and mouthwashes. Since 97% of teeth enamel and 70% of dentin is composed of hydroxyapatite, our biomimetic hydroxyapatite has high affinity towards teeth, which can promote the binding ability toward physiological substrates (tooth lesions, biofilm, etc.) during remineralization. It is also demonstrated that the cationic surfactant we used has a hygienizing effect especially toward acidogenic bacteria such as Streptococcus Mutans, who’s biofilms are responsible for dental caries. It also protects against the transmission of viruses by reducing the viral load in the mouth. Based on this, we combined 

Conclusions

Biomimetic hydroxyapatite combined with a cationic surfactant to create a unique active ingredient: KALHYGENIC which, employed in skin care and oral care products, provides an effective way to block the activity of microorganisms with a long lasting effect.